re: Darts - World Championship - WOWPosted by Doldil on 1/10/13 at 8:36 am to BigEdLSU

from wiki:

the traditional way of completing in nine throws requires a score of 60 (treble 20) with each of the first six darts, that is, with the first two shots of three. This leaves 141 to score on the final shot, known as the outshot.

quote:Welcome to something called the Lakeside BDO World Professional Darts Championship! It happened months ago. January, I think. I've successfully managed to avoid knowing who wins because I've done near-zero research. Also because it's darts. Let's be real.

Here's all I know of the event, learned in an effort to track down a video of the final: There are two governing bodies in professional darts. Apparently there was a schism at some point in the fairly recent past. From one, staid organization, two rivals were born.

Do I know if there is a demonstrable difference between the two organizations? No. I just know that there was something billing itself as the World Championship and it was broadcast by both the BBC and ESPN in the U.K. That seemed pretty legit to me. So, with all due apologies to dart fans ("darts fans?" I really don't know), I am well aware that I may be watching an inferior product. This could be the USFL of darts.

One other thing, dart(s) fans: Know that I go into this, my first darts-watching experience, with clear eyes and a full heart. I hope that I love it. I hope I will become a fan. But I am sure I'm going to wind up writing things that are super-ignorant and will make you want to scratch my corneas with whatever it is you call those little feather things at the back of a dart. So, fair warning.

Now, having brought up the Lakeside 2012 BDO men's final on YouTube, I will press play …